Curtain stretcher



March 29, 1955 D, G AMADO 2,704,906

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed OCT'. 22, 1952 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent O CURTAIN STRETCHER Dora G. Amado, Long Beach, N. Y.

Application October 22, 1952, Serial No. 316,269

Claims. (Cl. 45-24) This invention relates to curtain stretchers generally, and, more particularly, to curtain stretchers of the pinless typelt is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide a curtain stretcher of the above character which is more quickly applied to a curtain, requires for its application to a curtain less skill, and stretches a curtain more uniformly, than the conventional pin type curtain stretchers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a curtain stretcher of the above character which, in contrast to the pin type curtain stretchers, is not liable to tear a curtain being stretched.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a curtain stretcher formed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of a curtain stretcher showing a curtain mounted in position for stretching;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a curtain having associated therewith certain elements of the curtain stretcher of the present invention.

The present application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 74,777 for Curtain Stretcher, filed February 5, 1949, and now Patent No. 2,630,652.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 6 thereof, there is shown a curtain 10 which is an example of a curtain suitable for mounting on the stretcher 12. The curtain 10 may be of rectilinear conguration as shown and is provided with longitudinally extending pockets 14 along the margins thereof, said pockets being conventionally formed by folding back the outer margins of the body 16 of the curtain and sewing them to the latter as indicated at 18. The horizontally disposed pockets 14' may be of endless construction and the vertically disposed pockets 14 may be formed in any suitable manner so that access may be gained thereto, for example the stitching 18 may be interrupted at one or more of the curtain corner portions to provide passages 20 through which to introduce certain separate parts of the curtain stretcher 12 into the pockets 14. Thus each of the marginal edges of the curtain 10 is provided with a longitudinally extending pocket 14 and such pockets are adapted to receive the longitudinally extending rods 22 which constitute elements of the curtain stretcher assembly 12. The initial step in stretching the curtain 10 is to insert the rods 22 into the pockets 14 of said curtain in a manner which will be obvious from the above and thereafter this curtain assembly is associated with the stretcher 12 proper which will be described in detail hereinafter.

The stretcher 12 comprises an upper horizontal frame member 24, a pair of lower horizontal frame members 26 and 28, a pair of outer vertical frame members 30 and 32, and an intermediate vertical frame member 34, each of said frame members being adapted to be adjustably and detachably assembled to each other in a manner which will be described in detail below. Each of the frame j "ice members 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 are of the circular cross section as indicated in Fig. 3, whereas the frame member 34 is of elongated cross section, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The frame members may be formed of any suitable rigid material, for example wood, metal, plastic and the like. The upper horizontal frame mmeber 24 is preferably formed ot' two parts 24 and 24 which are hingedly secured to each other by means of the hinge 36. Thus the frame member 24 when detached from the remainder of the stretcher assembly 12 may be readily folded for convenience in transporting and storing said frame member. The means for adjustably and detachably assembling the stretcher frame parts to each other is constituted by the angle brackets 38 and associated structure.

With reference to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the part 24' of the frame member 24 is apertured therethrough at uniformly spaced intervals as indicated at 40, said apertures being adapted for the reception of the bolts 42 which are adapted to extend through said apertures 40 with said bolts being retained in secured position by means of the nuts 44. More particularly, a pair of angle brackets 38 are secured to the frame member 30 by means of the bolt 46 which extends through the aligned apertures 48 of the legs 50 of brackets 38 and the aperture 52 of the frame member 30. The bolt 46 is adapted to receive the nut 54 for maintaining the angle brackets 38 in secured position on the frame member 30. The legs 56 of the angle brackets 38 are apertured therethrough as indicated at 58 and said apertures are adapted for the reception of the bolts 42 aforedescribed. From the above it will be apparent that the part 24' of the frame member 24 may be axially adjusted relative to the frame member 30 within a predetermined range and may be maintained in adjusted position by means of the bolts 42 and nuts 44, said bolts extending through the apertures 40 of the part 24' in a position corresponding to the adjusted position of said part. The part 24 of the frame member 24 may be readily dissembled from the frame member 30 by removing either the bolt and nut, 46 and 54, respectively, or the bolts and nuts, 42 and 44, respectively. Although the adjustability feature illustrated and described is constituted by the series of spaced apertures 40 and associated structure it will be understood that if desired the part 24 may be provided with a conventional longitudinally extending slot which is adapted for the reception of the bolts 42 for maintaining the associated stretcher parts in adjustably secured position. The remaining frame members are adjustably and detachably assembled to each other in a similar manner wherefor no useful purpose will be served by describing all of the connections between the associated frame members in detail. The intermediate frame member 34 is secured to the frame member 24 through the intermediation of the brackets 38 which are adjustably mounted relative to said frame members in the manner aforedescribed whereby the frame member 34 may be adjusted axially of the frame member 24. The remaining angle brackets 38 are adjustably mounted relative to their associated frame members, the frame member 26 being vertically adjustable relative to its associated frame members 30 and 34. Similarly the frame member 28 is vertically adjustable relative to the frame member 34 and the frame member 32 is axially adjustable relative to the frame member 28. The frarne part 24 of the frame member 24 is adjustable axially of the frame member 32 in the aforedescribed manner Wherefor it will be seen that each of the frame members are adapted to be adjustably and detachably assembled to each other through the intermediation of their associated angle brackets 38 and companion structure. As previously noted each of the frame members provided with spaced apertures 40 for the adjustable provision aforedescribed may have substituted therefor an elongated slot wherefor a degree of adjustment may be obtained corresponding to the length of such slot. It will be apparent that the distance between the frame members 30 and 32 may be varied as the frame member 30 is adjustable axially of the part 24 and the frame member 32 is adjustable axially of the frame member 28, it being noted that the frame member 34 is adjustable axially of the frame member 24.

Each of the frame members 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 are provided with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots 60 which are formed complementary to the rods 22 and are adapted for the reception thereof, as best shown in Fig. 3. More particularly, each of the slots 60 are adapted to receive rods 22 and their adjacent curtain portions c which are adapted to be releasably retained in said slots by means of the L-shaped brackets 62; The brackets 62 are provided with a threaded shaft portion 64, which is threaded in the frame members, and a retainer portion 66, which is adapted to be pivoted about the shaft portion 64 to a securing position for retaining the rods 22 and adjacent curtain portions c in the slots 60. Selected brackets 62 may be readily removed from the frame members whereby the latter will have smooth unencumbered surfaces for a purpose which will become apparent from the description which follows. Each of the slots 60 has a plurality of such brackets 62 associated therewith to provide for the releasable securement of the rods 22 and associated curtain portions c in the slots 60 at spaced intervals. It will be evident that for releasing the rods 22 from the slots 60 it is merely necessary to pivot the brackets 62 about their shaft portions 64 to a position in which said rods will clear the retainer portion 66 of said brackets.

The frame member 34 is formed in a structurally similar manner and is provided with spaced pairs of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots 60 and 60 which are formed structurally similar to the slots 60 aforedescribed. The frame member 34 is symmetrical about both its longitudinal and lateral axes and the slots 60 are adapted to be associated with the slots 60 of the frame part 24 and frame members 26 and 30 in the normal application of the stretcher 12. Similarly, the longitudinally extending slots 60 of the frame member 34 are adapted to be operatively associated with the frame part 24" and frame members 28 and 32 in the normal application of the curtain stretcher. However, as it will be seen from the description which follows, the various frame members may be operatively associated with each other in a variety of ways depending on the particular curtain stretcher application. Thus each of the frame members of the stretcher 12 is provided with a series of forwardly positioned slots and a series of rearwardly positioned slots in order to provide for the drying of a plurality of curtains simultaneously, as Will be readily apparent.

With reference to Fig. 2, there is shown a curtain associated with the stretcher 12 in position to stretch the curtain. As previously noted the curtain initially has the rods 22 positioned in the pockets 14 and such assembly is associated with the stretcher 12 in the manner aforedescribed. More particularly. the frame part 24 and frame members 26. 30, and 34 are adiusted to correspond to the size of the curtain 10 and each of the rods 22 positioned in the pockets 14 are received in the forwardly positioned longitudinally extending slots 60 of the frame part 24 and frame members 26 and 30 and in the forwardly positioned longitudinally extending slot 60 of the frame member 34. Each of the rods 22 and adiacent curtain portions c are maintained in said slots by means of the brackets 62 aforedescribed in detail which are pivoted to the rod retaining position. as shown in Fig. 3. Thus the frame members associated with the curtain 10 are maintained in spread-apart position to stretch the curtain. Another similar curtain may be stretched by the stretcher 12 by associating said another curtain with the rearwardly positioned slots of the same frame members utilized for stretching curtain 10. Similarly the opposite portion of the stretcher 12 may be utilized in a similar fashion whereby it will be readily apparent that four curtains 10 may be simultaneously stretched by the use of the instant apparatus. Furthermore curtains of different sizes may be simultaneously stretched on the instant apparatus bv the utilization of the adiustable provisions aforedescribed.

The universal application of the instant stretcher may be further illustrated by the fact that unusually long or wide curtains may be stretched by positioning said curtain on the stretcher 12 in doubled-over fashion or partially doubled-over fashion. More particularlv. a curtain to be stretched may have one end thereof secured in the forwardly positioned slot 60 of member 30 and may have its other end secured either in the forwardly positioned slot 60 of member 32, rearwardly positioned slot 60 of the same member, rearwardly positioned slots,

60 and 60', of the member 34, or the rearwardly positioned slot 60 of the member 30 at which the first curtain end is secured. Similarly one end of a curtain to be stretched may be secured in the forwardly positioned slot 60 of the member 26 and the other end of said curtain may be secured to the rearwardly positioned slot 60 of the frame part 24 or to the rearwardly positioned slot 60 of the member 26 in which the first end of the curtain is secured. The above applications of stretching a curtain by the instant apparatus are given by way of example only and are not tobe construed in any limiting sense. It will be noted that all of the frame members are smoothly contoured and free from sharp corners at the points where portions of a curtain might contact as when such curtain is associated with the stretcher 12 in a doubled-over fashion. Thus when a curtain is so associated with a stretcher 12 there is no danger of tearing of the curtain in that all the surfaces of the frame parts that might be in contact therewith are smoothly contoured.

It will be noted that the pairs of slots 63 of the frame members 24, 26, and 28 lie substantially in the same horizontal plane when the stretcher 12 is vertically disposed and the pairs of slots 60 of the frame members 30 and 32 lie in a common plane which is substantially perpendicular to said horizontal plane. The slots 60 and 60" of the member 34 are similiarly arranged whereby it will be apparent that there is provided a series of slots forwardly disposed of the stretcher 12 with another similar series of slots being disposed rearwardly of said stretcher. The instant curtain stretcher 12 lends itself most readily to adjustment to different sizes by the means specifically described above whereby curtains of different sizes may be readily stretched by the instant apparatus. The instant apparatus is extremely compact when disassembled in that each of the frame members is of a relatively short length except for member 24 which is foldable so as to also be of a relatively short length whereby such apparatus may be stored and transported with ease.

An end portion of the frame member 24, adjacent its securement to the frame member 30, is cutaway as indicated at whereby to provide clearance for a rod 22 of indeterminate length positioned in the forwardly positioned slot 60 of the frame member 30. A similar cutaway portion 70 will be provided for the rearwardly positioned slot 60 of the frame member 30 whereby the frame member 24 will be provided with two such cutaway portions 70 so as to provide clearance for rods 22 which may extend transversely of the frame member 24. The frame member 24 is also cutaway at an intermediate portion as indicated at 72 to provide clearance for portions of a rod 22 which may be positioned in the slots 60 and 60" of the frame member 34. The cutaway portion 72 will be formed on both sides of the frame member 24 whereby to provide the clearance of the character aforedescribed on both sides of stretcher 12. The lower end of the frame member 34, adiacent its securement to members 26 and 28, is provided with a cutaway portion as indicated at 74 whereby to provide clearance for a rod 22 positioned either in the slots 60' and 60 of the frame member 34 or in the slots 60 of the frame members 26 and 28. The cutaway portion 74 is formed on both sides of the stretcher as will be readily apparent whereby to provide the requisite clearance aforedescribed on both sides of said stretcher. Similarly the end portion of the frame member 28, adjacent the securement of the latter to member 32, is cutaway as indicated at 76 whereby to provide clearance for a rod 22 extending in the slot 60 of the frame member 32. The cutaway portion 76 which will be formed on both sides of the frame member 28 for the reasons noted above are structurally similar to the cutaway portions 70 of part 24. From the above it will be apparent that rods 22 positioned in the forwardly or rearwardly slots 60 of the frame members 30, 32, and 34 may be of any length in that the stretcher 12 is provided with cutaway portions to provide clearance for any overhang of said rods. It will be apparent, that any rods 22 positioned in the slots 60 of` the members 24, 26 and 28 will not be interfered with by the frame member 34 due to the cutaway portions 72 and 74, aforedescribed. Furthermore it will be understood that the cutaway portions 70, 72, 74 and 76 will extend for a sutiicient distance corresponding to the range of adjustability of the frame members whereby to provide clearance for the rods 22 for the full range of adjustability of the frame members.

The usual curtain is longer than its widthwise dimension and in such case the top edge of the curtain will be secured to one of the frame members 30 and 32 and the bottom edge of the curtain will be secured to the other of said frame members in the manner aforedescribed.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A stretcher for a quadrilateral curtain having longitudinal pockets along the margins thereof, comprising separate longitudinal rigid rods insertable in the curtain pockets to extend along the margins, respectively, of the curtain, companion pairs of laterally spaced frame members with each of the latter having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots formed complementary to said rods and adapted for the reception thereof, means for releasably securing said rods in said slots, means for holding said companion pairs of frame members in spread apart position in a common plane with companion slots of said frame members being disposed in a common plane, said frame members having smooth unencumbered surfaces whereby to provide for the stretching of a curtain of greater dimension between opposite margins thereof than the spacing of a corresponding pair of frame members.

2. A stretcher for a curtain having endless pockets along at least two opposite margins thereof, respectively, comprising rods extensible through said curtain pockets, respectively, a pair of frame members each having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots formed complementary to said rods and adapted for the reception thereof, means for releasably securing said rods in said slots, means for holding said frame members in spread apart position to stretch the curtain with the slots of said frame ,members being in substantial alignment, and means for adjusting the spacing of said frame members for accommodating curtains of a range of sizes, said frame members having smooth unencumbered surfaces whereby to provide for the stretching of a curtain of greater dimension between opposite margins thereof than the spacing of said pair of frame members.

3. A stretcher for a curtain having endless pockets along at least two opposite margins thereof, respectively, comprising rods extensible through said curtain pockets, respectively, a pair of frame members each having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots formed complementary to said rods and adapted for the reception thereof, means for releasably securing said rods in said slots, and means for holding said frame members in spread apart position to stretch the curtain With the slots of said frame members being in substantial alignment, said pair of slots of each frame member lying in substantially the same horizontal plane when the curtain stretcher is vertically disposed, said frame members having smooth unencumbered surfaces whereby to provide for the stretching of curtains of greater dimension between said margins than the spacing of said frame members.

4. A stretcher for a rectangular curtain having pockets along the margins thereof, comprising separate rigid rods insertable in the curtain pockets to extend along the margins, respectively, of the curtain, an upper horizontal frame member, a pair of lower horizontal frame members, a pair of outer vertical frame members, and an intermediate vertical frame member, each of said frame members having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots formed complementary to said rods and adapted for the reception thereof with said intermediate frame member having an additional pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots symmetrically arranged relative to the other slots of said intermediate frame member, means for releasably securing said rods in said slots, and means for adjustably and detachably assembling said frame members to each other whereby a plurality of curtains of various sizes may be simultaneously stretched, said frame members having smooth unencumbered surfaces whereby to provide for the disposition thereover of portions of a curtain to be stretched.

5. A stretcher for a rectangular curtain having pockets along the margins thereof, comprising separate rigid rods insertable in the curtain pockets to extend along the margins, respectively, of the curtain, companion pairs of frame members with each of the latter having a longitudinally extending slot formed complementary to said rods and adapted for the reception thereof, means for releasably securing said rods in said slots, means for holding said companion pairs of frame members in spread apart position in a common plane to stretch the curtain simultaneously widthwise and lengthwise, means for adjusting the spacing of said companion pairs of frame members for accommodating curtains of various sizes, and a cutaway portion in communication with a companion slot and of at least corresponding depth on one of said frame members for providing clearance for any overhang of a companion rigid rod.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 319,345 Sweitzer June 2, 1885 604,414 Palmer et al. May 24, 1898 1,252,981 Allen Jan. 8, 1918 2,630,652 Amado Mar. l0, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,443 Great Britain 1914 14,338 Switzerland May 20, 1897 147,121 Switzerland Aug. 17, 1931 

